Decorative hair pin for plaited type 4 hair

ABSTRACT

The current invention is a device, method and system for adorning type 4 hair styled in a complex pattern formed by interlacing strands of hair using an acute angled hair pin. The preferred device of the instant invention is a decorative hair pin, made of a strand of wire formed of a resilient material, with the first leg substantially longer than the second leg joined by an u-shape bend composed of an acute angle. In the preferred method of the invention, the longer leg of the pin is inserted into a section of woven hair in the opposite direction of the plait and is positioned parallel to the wears scalp under length the bulk of the plait. In use the decorative ornament is the only part of the invention showing in the user&#39;s hair. The device may come in different lengths, angular degrees and thicknesses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to hair accessories and, in particular, to a hair clip for high density, type 4 or coily hair already placed in interwoven styles (including bantu knots, cornrows, flat twist etc.) known as protective styles as the ends of the wearer's hair are protected from the elements and potential breakage. The invention relates to hair styling devices, methods and systems. More specifically, this invention relates to hair styling devices, methods and systems for securing decorative hair adornments onto protectively styled hair.

2. Description of Related Art

Most decorative hair pins use a device based on the bobby pin with decorative adornment adhered on the bent portion of the wire pin. Yet the bobby pin is not properly secured into thick woven type 4 (for example in cornrowed hair), as it was designed for straighter, thinner, low density type 1-3 hair. These decorative hair retainers are difficult to insert and secure into thick plaited hair. The retainers also cause potential breakage in their removal from plaited hairstyle. The two equal lengths of the smooth linear design of the bobby pin fails to provide adequate leverage to adhere into thick hair. Typical hair decoration devices include barrette devices and loop securing devices. These types of device secure sections of hair by wrapping around a selected tuft or strand of unwoven type 1-3 hair.

Most inventions of the prior art are configured for straight low density hair that does not have the coarse gravity defying characteristics that type 4 hair has. In addition, these inventions do not allow the wearer to utilize the hair pin as purely decorative purposes to adorn hair already styled in a complex plait structure. What is needed is a decorative hair styling device configured to secure and retain an adornment in a preferred position on the user's plaited hairstyle.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregone disadvantages inherent in hair pins and gaping lack of secure decorative hair pin options designed for plaited hairstyles and thick type 4 hair now present in the prior section, the present invention provides a new hair pin construction wherein the decorative hair pin can be utilized for plaited hair by leveraging the bulk of the plait itself without damaging the structural integrity of the hairstyle. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new decorative hair pin apparatus and method which has new features and methodology specifically designed to adorn plaited hairstyles with minimal unnecessary hair pulling or damage to the plait itself.

To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a strand of wire formed of a resilient material having a first leg longer than a second leg shorter, preferably half the length of the first leg. In one embodiment, the bend is U or V shaped in an acute angle. In some embodiments, the longer leg is the free end with a protective rubber or plastic coating secured to the end for the wearer's comfort. The longer leg will be secured parallel to the wearers scalp and therefore requires extra protection to avoid potential cutting or discomfort of the scalp. The second leg end is used to adhere the decorative ornament which will be visible in the wearer's hair. The decorative ornament varies based on the desired style or design. The ornament can be composed of polymer clay, plastic, paper, silk or any other appropriate decorative hair material.

In use, the hair is already in desired plaited hairstyle. Once the desired section of hair is identified, the longer leg of the hair pin is inserted into the plait in the opposite direction of the plait original construction. The pin is inserted by angling the leg down towards the scalp. The longer leg is push into the plait until the longer leg is lying parallel to the user's scalp and has successfully transversed the bulk of the plait. For the abovementioned embodiment of the method, it is preferable that the longer leg of the hair pin is completely submerged under the plait. Once the longer leg is fully submerged, the shorter leg is positioned as desired and disguised within the middle and top layers of the plait. The original direction of the plait can be adjusted by pulling gently around the plait to ensure the plaits structural integrity is maintained with the decorative clip fully inserted. In completion, the decorative ornament at the end of the shorter hair pin leg is the only object visible in the hair plaited. Further, the hair pin may be used in conjunction with one more additional pins in the same section of hair.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new decorative hair pin apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the hair pins mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new hair pin which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art hair pins, either alone or in any combination thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new decorative hair pin which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new decorative hair pin which is of a durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a decorative new hair pin which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such hair pin economically available to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a decorative new hair pin which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new hair pin for decorative plaited hairstyles for placing it underneath or within the plait or against the scalp of the head of the user.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new decorative hair pin which includes a strand of wire formed of a resilient material having a longer first leg and a shorter second leg joined together by an acute angle designed to wrap around a hair plait. The longer leg has a free end. The first leg is positioned so that the free end is placed into a plaited hairstyles, including but not limited to a cornrow, braid, flat twist or Bantu knot hairstyle, than such that the second leg is disguised by the plait itself and the decorative ornament is the only visible piece of the invention. The second shorter leg is less than the length of the first leg.

Still yet another object of the present invention is the methodology to provide a new decorative hair pin that leveraged the bulk of a hair plait to secure into the wearers hair with minimal pulling or damage to the structural integrity of the plait.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunciton with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1a-c are schematic plan views of a new decorative hair pin according to the present invention.

FIG. 1a is horizontal view of the decorative hair pin highlighting the two legs of different lengths.

FIG. 1b is horizontal view of the decorative hair pin highlighting the adjoining bend.

FIG. 1c is horizontal view of the decorative hair pin highlighting angle of the adjoining bend.

FIG. 2a is horizontal view of the decorative hair pin in use not fully inserted into the plait.

FIG. 2b is horizontal view of the decorative hair pin in use fully inserted into the plait from a horizontal point of view, with the plait being shown as see through to demonstrate how the pin is secured during wearing.

FIG. 2c is horizontal view of the decorative hair pin in use fully inserted into the plait from a birds eye view with the plait not being shown as see through to show what the decorative hair pin will look like in plain sight.

FIGS. 2a-c shows the decorative hair pin in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Features and combination of features of the decorative hair pin structures shown in FIGS. 1a-c are used, herein, to describe and explain particular properties of the decorative hair pin structures. However, the features and combinations of the features of the decorative hair pin structure shown in FIGS. 1a-2c are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Further, it is understood that the decorative ornament shown varies based on the desired style or design. The general substitute illustrated in FIG. 2 is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Further, it is understood that the term acute angle is not intended to be used in the rigorously mathematical sense, but rather intended to describe an angled structure that is angled in a manner that is less than a right angle with an acute degree distance from a real or an imaginary horizontal point. With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, a new hair pin embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numbers will be described.

As best illustrated in FIG. 1a the hair pin generally comprises a strand of wire 101 formed of a resilient material having a first leg L1 and a second leg L2 joined together by a first bend 102, which is a U shaped bend. A bulbous member 103 is attached to the end of the longer leg L1. In one embodiment, the bulbous member 103 comprises an elastomeric material. The second leg L2 is without a bulbous member as it will have a decorative ornament 201 adhered to the end. The first leg L1 is greater in length than the second leg (FIG. 1b ) L2. The second leg L2 is preferably half the length of the first leg. The adjoining bend may also be a v-shaped angle as illustrated in FIG. 1b 104.

FIG. 1c shows an acute angle structure 105. The acute angle structure 105 has a first end 106 that extends in a flat horizontal direction and in an elongated direction less than 90 degrees from 106 to the second end 107. The shape of the acute angle structure 105 is described, herein, in terms of the average acute angle 108 and the rational gradient of the first leg L1 and the second leg L2 (FIG. 1b ). The average acute angle 108 is determined by drawing the vectors 106 and 107 along the imaginary horizontal X-axis of the acute angle structure 105, wherein the vectors 106 and 107 substantially define a plane in an acute angle structure 105. The angle 108 at the intersection of the two vectors 106 and 107 is the average acute angle. The acute angle between L1 and L2 is the fundamental architecture which allows for the device to be inserted and remain secure in plait.

FIG. 2a in use, the device is positioned in hair already styled in a complex structure or pattern formed by interlacing strands of hair, including cornrows, plaits, bantu knots or flat twists. In this example the hair is already configured into a cornrow 203. During use, in one embodiment, the first leg 202 is inserted in a section of the cornrow 204 in the opposite direction the hair was braided. The elastomeric bulbous member protects the wire hair pin from breaking hair or unnecessarily distributing the structural integrity of the hairstyle. The second leg holding the decorative ornament 201 is not placed in the hair yet.

As shown in FIG. 2b the hair pin has been fully inserted in the hair. The elastomeric bulbous member 205 sits on the wearer's scalp and the first leg is parallel to the wearer's scalp. The first leg is completely submerged under the cornrow and the woven hair acts as leverage to anchor the entire hair pin structure, while allowing the decorative ornament 207 to be the only piece of the object visible and appears to be floating on top of the cornrow with no visible support. The acute angle of the hair pin 206 is hidden from external view and secured in the middle of the cornrow.

FIG. 2c is a birds eye view of the hairpin once fully and properly inserted into the woven hair. The decorative ornament 207 to be the only piece of the object visible and appears to be floating on top of the cornrow with no visible support. The advantage of this placement is that it allows the wearer to display the decorative ornament while completely concealing the structure below the ornament. This placement allows the decorative ornament to appear as if it is effortlessly floating on top of the plait while it is simultaneously incredibly secure because it leverages the structure of the plait for stability.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A decorative hair pin comprising: a strand of wire formed of a resilient material having a first leg and a second leg joined together by an acute angle bend, the acute angle bend being U-shaped or V-shaped between 1 and 89 degrees; the first leg has a first length and the second leg has a second length, wherein the first length is double the second length; and, the first leg lying generally in a plane.
 2. The decorative hair pin of claim 1, wherein the first leg and the second leg are straight.
 3. The decorative hair pin of claim 1, further including a bulbous member, said bulbous member being attached to the first leg at a free end.
 4. The decorative hair pin of claim 3, wherein the bulbous member comprises an elastomeric material.
 5. A decorative hair pin comprising: a strand of wire formed of a resilient material having a first leg and a second leg joined together by an acute angle bend, the acute angle bend being U-shaped or V-shaped between 1 and 89 degrees; the first leg has a first length and the second leg has a second length, wherein the first length is double the second length; and the first leg lying generally in a plane, wherein the first leg and the second leg are straight; a bulbous member, said bulbous member being attached to the first leg at a free end, wherein said bulbous member comprises an elastomeric material. 